Bearing for earth working tools



July 11, 1939.

w. E. GOBLE Re. 21,145

BEARING FOR EARTH WORKING TOOLS Original Filed Jan. 18, 1932 I Hllll MAL/AM I; 6 0545,

Reissuecl July 11, 1939 PATENT OFFICE BEARING FOR EARTH WORKING TOOLS William E. Goble, Fowler, Calif., assignor of one-v half to Goble Disc Works, a corporation Original No. 1,932,619,

dated October 31, 1933,

Serial No. 587,219, January 18, 1932. Application for reissue January 18, 1939, Serial No. 251,652. Renewed August 22, 1933 9 Claims.

My invention relates to an earth working tool and more specifically to one in which the earth digger rotates such as a disc cultivator, and in which it is desirable to have a bearing that re- 5 sists the entrance of sand and dirt thereto.

The object I have accomplished is the formation of a bearing for an earth working tool which can be kept greased or thoroughly oiled and which will resist and exclude the entrance of dirt, dust, or sand into the wearing parts of the bearing.

In the drawing herewith Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a portion of a disc cultivator showing the arrangement of the bearing, the axle, and the tube supporting the discs, with other features which are apparent. Fig. 2 shows a lock washer. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional View of the device shown in Fig. 1 along the line 33 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a cross sectional View along section line 4-4 in Fig. 20 1. Fig. 5 is a thrust washer. Fig. 6 is a plan top View of the disc assembly in a. frame. Fig. 7 is an end view of the axle.

Referring to the drawing, I have constructed a frame l which has sides and ends which may be in the form of a rhomboid or a parallelogram, and which may have a plurality of crosssupports Ii. Extending laterally within this frame and rigidly attached thereto is axle [2. The ends of the axle are squared as shown. in Fig. '7 and it is attached to the frame so that the said axle cannot turn. I have provided floating bearings l3 which are adapted to turn on the axle near either end thereof. Means for holding floating bearings l3 in the position near the end of the axle consist of stop ring M at one end which is attached to the axle a spaced distance from the end, thus forming a stop to prevent the bearing l3 from sliding endwise toward the center of the axle. At the opposite end of the assembled axle and bearing, a stop I is likewise positioned, said stop l5 being attached to tube l6 within. said tube and a spaced distance from the end. Tube l 6 is intended as the support for discs 11. It encircles the axle and bearings [3. The discs are attached to tube 16 as follows:

At one end of tube I 6 a stop I8 is attached. Discs I! are formed with a hole through the center thereof of sufficient size so that tube Hi can passtherethrough. Tube I6 is passed through one of said discs, then through a spacer 19, then through another disc, then through another spacer and disc until the discs and spacers approximately extendv alternately the length of tube l6. Nut which is adapted to screw on the end of tube H5 is then screwed against the last disc,

clamping the assembled discs and spacers solidly with tube I6. For the purpose of locking said assembled discs, spacers, and tube I6 together, I have used lock nut 2| to bear against regular nut 20. A set screw 22 can be adapted to lock the lock nut. It will be noted that when thus assembled, the disc, spacer, and tube I5 assembly is adapted to rotate on axle l2 through the medium of bear- To take up the end play of the discs I have rigidly attached an annular ring 24 to axle l2 near the lateral center thereof, and have attached an annular ring 25 to the inside of tube I6 preferably by means of a screw 26. The annular ring 24 is of such diameter that it can. rotate within tube I6 and the opening in annular ring 25 is such that axle l2 can be rotated therein. Said annular rings 24 and 25 are positioned so that thrust washer 2T encircles axle l2 and is positioned between annular rings 24 and 25. It is noted that the discs are uniformly arranged on tube it with the concave surfaces facing the same direction, and likewise the convex surfaces are facing in the opposite direction. In using the disc assembly the pressure of the earth against the concave sides of the discs. will cause the disc assembly to bear in a direction along the lineal line or diameter of tube Hi from the concave face toward the convex face thereof. Annular rings 24 and 25, forming the thrust hearing, are arranged with reference to each other so that the approaching bearing faces of the two rings will normally press toward each other when the disc assembly is in use as above noted.

Axle I2 is hollow. At either end thereof are cap screws 39 and 3| which are adapted to hold the axle to frame l0. Cap screw 3| is bored its lateral length and an alemite grease cup 32 is placed therein for the purpose of permitting oil or grease to be injected to the inside of the axle. By means of holes 33 through the wall of the axle to the hollow portion thereof said grease or oil is fed to the bearings. A cap 40 at one end of said assembly is adapted to contain packing 4| and to cover the one end of the assembled tube I6, bearing l3, and axle 12. At the opposite end packing 45 is placed within the end of tube l6 and is held therein by means of plate 41 and washer 46. It will be noted that axle l2, bearings l3, and the thrust bearing composed of annular rings 24 and 25 and thrust washer 21 are all encased within tube I6 so that it is impossible for dust or dirt to enter therein except at the ends of said tube l6 which are inclosed by the packing and caps, and coverings l3 which are between the said axle and tube ings hereinbefore referred to. The discs are locked to the tubular housing 16 by meansof a pin 50 extending through the disc and into the spacers or other means between which the discs are clamped.

While the drawing represents a disc cultivator, other earth working tools which function by rotating can be substituted.

I claim as new and ask for Letters Patent:

1. An earth working tool comprising a tubular housing adapted to attach a plurality ofearth working tools thereto, a fixed axle adapted for the tubular housing to rotate thereon, packing means at each end of said assembled tubular housing and axle adapted to exclude dust and dirt therefrom, and a thrust bearing near the approximate center of the assembled housing and axle consisting of an annular stop member attached to the axle, and an annular stop member attached to the inside of the housing, said stop members being positioned to cooperate'in limiting the lateral movement of the housing relative to the axle, a chamber within the tubular housing and adjacent to the. thrust bearing, said cham her being adapted to hold a lubricant.

2. In an earth working tool having a fixed axle, a tubular housing adapted to rotate on the fixed axle, and means at each end of the housing adapted to exclude dirt therefrom, a rotary bearing member adjacent each end of the axle interposed between the axle and the tubular housing and adapted to rotate freely between them, a thrust bearing intermediate between the ends of the axle, said thrust bearing consisting of a stop rigidly attached to the axle, and an annular stop attached to the inside of the housing and approximately concentric therewith, said stops being positionedto cooperate in limiting the lateral movement of the housing relative to the axle, the tubular housing adjacent to the thrust bearing being adapted to hold a lubricant.

3. In an earth working tool having a fixed axle, a tubular housing adapted to rotate on the fixed axle, and. means at each end of the housing adapted to exclude dirt therefrom, a rotary bearing member adjacent each end of the axle interposed between the axle and the tubular housing and adapted to rotate freely between them, a

thrust. bearing intermediate between the ends of the axle, said thrust bearing consisting of a stop rigidlyattached to the axle, and an annular stop attached to the inside of the housing and approximately concentric therewith, said stops being positioned to cooperate in limiting the lateral movement of the housing relative to the axle, the tubular housing adjacent to the thrust bearing being adapted to hold a lubricant, and a thrust washer or collar between the said adjacent faces.

4. In an earth working tool having a fixed axle, a tubular housing adapted to rotate on the fixed axle, and means at each end of the housing adapted to exclude dirt therefrom, a rotary bearing member adjacent each end of the axle interposed between the axle and the tubular housing and adapted to rotate freely between them, a thrust bearing between the inner ends of the rotary bearing members, said thrust bearing consisting of a stop rigidly attached to the axle, and an annular stop attached to the inside of the housing and approximately concentric therewith, said stops being positioned to cooperate in limiting the lateral movement of the housing relative to the axle, the tubular housing adjacent to the thrust bearing being adapted to hold a lubricant.

5. In an earth working tool having a fixed axle,

a tubular housing adapted to rotate on the fixed axle, and means at each end of the housing adapted to exclude dirt therefrom, a rotary bearing member adjacent each end of the axle interposed between the axle and the tubular housing and adapted to rotate freely between them, a thrust bearing between the inner ends of the rotary bearing members, said thrust bearing consisting of a stop rigidly attached to the axle, and an annular stop attached to the inside of the housing and approximately concentric therewith,

said stops being positioned to cooperate in limiting the lateral movement of the housing relative to the axle, the tubular housing adjacent to the thrust bearing being adapted to hold a lubricant, and a thrust Washer or collar between the said adjacent faces.

6. In an earth Working tool having a fixed axle, a tubular housing adapted to rotate on the fixed axle, and means at each end of the housing adapted to, exclude dirt therefrom, a rotary bearing member adjacent each end of the axle interposed between the axle and the tubular housing and adapted. to rotate freely between them, a

thrust bearing between the inner ends of the rotary bearing members, said thrust bearing consisting of a stop rigidly attached to the axle, and an. annular stop attached to the inside of the housing and approximately concentric therewith, said stops being positioned to cooperate in limiting the lateral movement of the housing relative to. the axle, the tubular housing adjacent to the thrust bearing being adapted to hold alubricant, and an oil passage through the axle communicating with the housing to supply a lubricant for the thrust bearing.

7. In. an earth working tool having a fixed axle, a tubular housing adapted to rotate on the fixed axle, and means at each end of the housing adapted to exclude dirt therefrom, a rotary bearing member adjacent each end of the axle interposed between the axle and the tubular housing and, adapted to rotate freely between, them, a thrust bearing between theinner ends of the rotary bearing members, said thrust bearing consisting of a stop rigidly attached to the axle, and an annular stop attached to the inside of the housing and approximately concentric therewith, said stops being positioned to cooperate in limitingv thelateral movement of the housing relative. to the axle, the tubular housing adjacent to the thrust bearing being adapted to hold a Inbricant, and an oil passage through the axle communicating with the housing in the immediate region of the rotary bearing member and the thrust bearing to supply a lubricant for the rotary bearing member and the thrust bearing.

8. In an earth working tool having a fixedaxle, a: housing adapted to have earth working elements attached thereto, means adapting the housing to be rotated on said axle comprising freely floating bearings between the axle and housing, fixed means adjacent the inner ends thereof to position and confine the floating bearings longitudinally of the axle and housing, and a. thrust bearing between the inner ends of the floating bearings consisting of an annular stop fixed to the axle and an annular stop fixed on the inside of the housingpositioned to engage with the stop on the axlewhen the axle and housing are assembled, the housing being adapted to hold a lubricant adjacent to the thrust bearing.

9. An earth working tool having a frame, an axle attached to the frame, a tubular housing enclosing the axle, earth working elements attached to the housing, a bearing adjacent each end of the housing interposed between the axle and housing and adapted to rotate therebetween, a thrust bearing independent of the end bearings and spaced therefrom, said thrust bearing consisting of a stop attached to the axle, a cooperating annular stop attached to the housing, said two stops being positioned relative to each other and adapted to cooperate tolimit lateral movement of the housing with relation to the axle, and closures at either end of the housing adapting the housing to retain oil adjacent to the bearings and to exclude dirt.

WILLIAM E. GOBLE. 

